Winding mechanism for spring motors of photographic cameras



United States Patent [72] Inventors Dieter Mans [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1953 Harvey............t............

Munich, and

242/7l.4 95/31 95/31X 95/31 95/31X 2,704,969 3/1955Mische......................... 2,940,682 6/1960Steineck....t.................. 3,036,507 5/1962 Lossey..... 3,185,0585/1965 Singer.......................,,.

Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Assistant ExaminerDavid S. StallardAttorney-Michael S. Striker [32] Priority March 11, 1967 [33] Germany [3l 1 A 27 ABSTRACT: A photographic camera wherein the film transportingmechanism and/or other movable mechanisms receive motion from the outputmember of a spring motor when the laitter's spring dissipates energy.The spring is wound to store energy in response to rotation of a windingmember which I541 WINDING MECHANISM FOR SPRING MOTORS 23 33331ri iiiiiii nf $$fii1?i;3?$?n;n2$3Z5 9 g z wind the spring of the motor by wayof a first one-way clutch aims rawmg and the spring can drive the outputmember by way of a second one-way clutch. The first clutch winds thespring only when the winding member rotates in a predetermined 95/31;direction, and the second clutch rotates the output member 7i .4, 71.5}only when the spring dissipates energy.

[5i] rm. [50] Field WINDING MECHANISM FOR SPRING MOTORS F PHOTOGRAPIIICCAMERAS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates tocameras, and more particularly to improvements in winding mechanisms forspring motors in still cameras or motion picture cameras.

Many cameras are provided with spring motors whose springs must be woundto store energy and to thereupon operate various mechanisms, such as thefilm transporting mechanism, the shutter mechanism, an indexible socketfor flash bulbs and/or others. In certain types of such cameras, thespring motor is accommodated in the housing and the winding knob ismounted externally on the housing. If the user wishes to wind the motorspring in a single continuous operation, he or she must exert aconsiderableforce and the knob must be rather large to insure a firmgrasp by the fingers. The carrying caseof such a camera must be providedwith a separate recess to accommodate the knob.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of our invention to provide anovel and improved winding mechanism for spring motors of photographiccameras and to construct the winding mechanism in such a way that itoccupies little room, that it comprises a relatively small number ofsimple parts, that it does not comprise any parts which project wellbeyond the housing of the camera and that it can be used for winding ofspring motors utilizing socalled negator springs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel motiontransmitting connection between the winding member and the spring motorin a still camera or motion picture camera;

Our invention is embodied in a photographic camera which comprises ahousing, a mount for an objective lens system supported by the housing,a spring motor mounted in the housing and having a rotary output memberwhich is arranged to operate at least one movable mechanism of thecamera (for example, the film transporting means, the shutter and/orsocket for a multiple flash bulb holder) when the motor springdissipates energy, and winding means serving to cause the motor springto store energy. The winding means comprises an annular or tubularwinding member which is rotatably supported by the housing and iscoaxial with and preferably surrounds at least a portion of the lensmount. 7

The spring motor may comprise a so-called negator spring one end ofwhich is anchored in a rotary core which is coupled with and rotates theoutput member when caused to rotate in a first direction while thespring of the motor dissipates energy. The core rotates in a seconddirection to convolute the spring around its periphery and to thus causethe spring to store energy when the winding member is rotated by hand ina predetermined direction. The motion transmitting connection betweenthe winding member and the core may comprise an internal gear on thewinding member, a pinion rotatably mounted in the lens mount and meshingwith the internal gear, a spring friction clutch or another suitableone-way clutch which transmits torque when the pinion rotates with thewinding member in predetermined direction, a coupling which is driven bythe clutch, and a set of bevel gears which receive motion from thecoupling and rotate the core in the second direction.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theimproved winding mechanism itself, however, both as to its constructionand its mode of operation, together with additional features andadvantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of thefollowing detailed description of a specific embodiment with referenceto the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary explodedperspective view of a still camera which embodies the winding mechanismof our invention; and

FIG. 2 is a larger scale fragmentary transverse vertical sectional viewof the camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, thereis shown a portion of a still camera which comprises a housing I havinga horizontal internal wall or partition 2 and a front wall 1A connectedwith a lens mount 3 for an objective lens system 0L. The winding meansfor the spring motor 14 comprises a tubular winding member 4 which isrotatable around and is coaxial with the lens mount 3. The windingmember 4 (hereinafter called cylinder for short) has an annular internalgear 4a meshing with a pinion 5 which is journaled in the lens mount 3.The pinion 5 is rigid with a coaxial stub 5a which forms part of a firstone-way spring friction clutch. The latter further comprises a helicalspring 6 a portion of which receives the stub 5a with a tight fit. Theclutch also includes a second stub 7 which extends into the otherportion of the helical spring 6 and whose diameter is somewhat smallerthan that of the stub 5a so that it is a loose fit in the spring. Thestub 5a has an end face which abuts against the adjoining end face ofthe stub 7. The stub 7 has an extension of other than circular outlinewhich is received in a complementary slot 8a provided in a socket 8bforming an integral part of a bevel gear 8. In the illustratedembodiment, the extension 7a resembles a diametrically extending rib.The parts 8a, 8b, 7a form a simple coupling which connects theaforementioned spring friction clutch 5a, 6, 7 with the bevel gear 8.The stub 7 is received in a loosely mounted sleeve 9 having a recess orcutout 9a for one end of the spring 6. The sleeve 9 forms part of abraking device and is provided with a circumferential groove 9b for anendless braking spring 11 which is also trained around a stationary postor stud 10. The stub 5a is rotatable on a shaft 15 which is installed inan axially parallel bore 30 of the lens mount 3. A similar shaft 16 forthe bevel gear 8 is mounted on a downwardly bent front portion of thepartition 2.

The bevel gear 8 meshes with a bevel gear 12 which is installed at alevel above the partition 2 and is rigid or integral with the core 13 ofthe spring motor 14. The core 13 is of U- shaped axial sectional outlineand has a centrally located hollow cylindrical stub 13a which forms partof a second one-way spring friction clutch. The stub 13a is traversed bya coaxial output shaft 17 which is journaled in the partition 2 andcarries at its lower end a gear I9a forming part of a gear train 19which can transmit motion to several components of the camera, forexample to one or more sprockets 25 of the film transporting mechanism,to a winding mechanism for the shutter, to an indexible socket for flashbulbs, and/or others. One end portion of the motor spring 14b isanchored in the core I3 (see FIG.I). The aforementioned stub 13a doesnot extend all the way to the top of the core I3 and is coaxial with asecond stub 17a which is rigid with the output shaft 17. The secondfriction clutch further comprises a helical spring 18 which surroundsthe stubs 13a, 17a in such a way that the stub 13a is a tight fit butthat the stub 17a is a loose fit (see FIG. 2). Thus, the diameter of thestub 17a is somewhat less than that of the stub 13a. The other end ofthe motor spring 14b is atfixed to a post 14a. The spring 14bconstitutes a so-called negator spring; it tends to coil itself aroundthe post 14a.

' In order to wind the spring 14b, the user of the camera rotates thecylinder 4 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1. The pinion 5rotates in the same direction. Since the stub 5a is a tight fit in thespring 6, the latter tends to rotate in the clockwise direction but suchrotation of the spring 6 is opposed by the braking device 9, I0, 11whereby the spring 6 contracts and engages the peripheral surface of thestub 7. The spring 6 then begins to rotate the stub 7 and the sleeve 9whereby the rib 7a of the stub 7 drives the socket 8b and the bevel gear8 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. I. The gear 8 drives thebevel gear 12 in a counter clockwise direction whereby the core 13collects the windings of the spring 14b by drawing the spring off thepost 14a. The spring 14b stores energy and tends to coil itself backonto the post 140. When the core 13 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection to collect the windings of the spring 14b, the diameter of thehelical clutch spring 18 increases so that the latter cannot rotate thestub 17a on the output shaft 17, i.e., the gear train 19 and the outputshaft 17 do not share rotational movement of the core 13 and gear 12 ina counterclockwise direction.

If the user wishes, he or she can rotate the cylinder 4 back and forth.Such mode of winding is often preferred. The cylinder 4 rotates thepinion 5 back and forth but the spring 6 causes the bevel gear 8 to turnonly when the cylinder 4 rotates in a clockwise direction. This is dueto the fact that, when the pinion 5 rotates the stub 50 in acounterclockwise direction, the diameter of the clutch spring 6 tends toincrease and the spring 6 cannot transmit torque to the stub 7.

When the spring 14b is permitted to dissipate energy by winding itselfback onto the post 140, the core 13 rotates in a clockwise direction andcauses the clutch spring 18 to contract around the stub 17a of theoutput shaft 17 so that the latter rotates in the clockwise directionand drives the gear 19a of the gear train 19. The bevel gear 12 rotatesin a clockwise direction and drives the gear 8 and socket 8b in acounterclockwise direction. The socket 8b drives the stub 7 in acounterclockwise direction and, since the stub 7 is a loose fit in theclutch spring 6, the latter cannot drive the stub 5a and pinion 5 insuch counterclockwise direction. Thus, the cylinder 4 remains idle whenthe spring 14b dissipates energy.

The numerals 20 and 21 denote schematically illustrated stops whicharrest the spring 14b in its respective end positions. The manner inwhich such stops cooperate with the spring 14b is known. The camerafurther comprises suitable pawls or the like which determine the extentto which the output shaft 17 is allowed to turn when the spring 14b isfree to dissipate energy. Such pawls can be controlled in a manner wellknown from the art of spring motors employing negator springs. I

In order to insure proper centering of the cylinder 4, the front wall 1Aof the housing 1 is provided with a ring-shaped bearing member 1a havingan annular internal surface 1b which surrounds the rear end portion ofthe cylinder. The pinion 5 is held in requisite position by theaforementioned shaft in the axially parallel bore 30 of the lens mount3. The lens mount 3 is properly centered on and is preferably threadedlyconnected with the front wall 1A.

The camera of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be modified in a number of ways withoutdeparting from the spriit of the present invention. For example, thestub 7 can be made integral with the bevel gear 8. Furthermore, thenegator spring 14b can be replaced by a different spring and at leastone of the spring friction clutches including the springs 6 and 18 canbe replaced by a different oneway clutch. Still further, the bearing laon the front wall 1A can be provided with a circular groove for the rearend portion of the cylinder 4.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featureswhich fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic andspecific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a photographic camera, a housing; a spring motor supported by saidhousing, said motor including a spring and a movable output member; acamera mechanism including a movable portion arranged to receive motionfrom said output member when'the spring dissipates energy; a lens mounton said housing; and winding means for said spring, said winding meansincluding a rotary tubular winding member= supported by said housing andcoaxial with and at least partially surrounding said lens mount.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor is received insaid housing.

3. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor furthercomprises a portion which rotates with said output member in a firstdirection when the spring dissipates energy and in a second directionwhen the spring stores energy in response to rotation of said windingmember in a predetermined direction, said winding member comprising afirst gear and said winding means further comprising a second gearmeshing with said first gear and a motion transmitting connectionbetween said second gear and said portion of said motor for rotatingsaid portion in said direction in response to rotation of said firstgear in said predetermined direction.

4. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said output member isrotatable about an axis which is inclined with reference to the axis ofsaid winding member and wherein said spring dissipates energy at asubstantially constant rate during unwinding, said motor furtherincluding a rotary core connected with one end of said spring and saidcore being arranged to rotate said output member in a first directionwhen said spring dissipates energy and to rotate with reference to saidoutput member in a second direction when said spring stores energy inresponse to rotation of said winding member in a predetermineddirection.

5. In a photographic camera, a housing; a spring motor sup ported bysaid housing and including a spring and a movable output member arrangedto operate at least one movable mechanism of the camera when the springdissipates energy; a lens mount on said housing; and winding means forsaid spring, including a rotary tubular winding member supported by saidhousing and coaxial with said lens mount. said motor further comprisinga portion which rotates with said output member in a first directionwhen the spring dissipates energy and in a second direction when thespring stores energy in response to rotation of said winding member in apredetermined direction, said winding member comprising an internal gearand said winding means further comprising a pinion rotatably mounted insaid lens mount and meshing with said internal gear and a motiontransmitting connection between said pinion and said portion of saidmotor for rotating said portion in said second direction in response torotation of said internal gear in said predetermined direction.

6. In a photographic camera, a housing; a spring motor supported by saidhousing and including a spring and a movable output member arranged tooperate at least one movable mechanism of the camera when the springdissipates energy; a lens mount on said housing; and winding means forsaid spring, including a rotary tubular winding member supported by saidhousing and coaxial with said lens mount, said motor further including aportion which rotates with said output member in a first direction whenthe spring dissipates energy and in a second direction when the springstores energy in response to rotation of said winding member in apredetermined direction, said winding member comprising a first gear andsaid winding means further including a second gear meshing with saidfirst gear and a motion transmitting connection between said second gearand said portion of said motor for rotating said portion in said seconddirection in response to rotation of said first gear in saidpredetermined direction, said motion transmitting connection comprisingone-way clutch means arranged to drive said portion of said motor insaid second direction in response to rotation of said winding member insaid predetermined direction.

7. A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said one-way clutch meanscomprises a first stub coaxial and rigid with said second gear, a secondstub coaxial with and having a diameter slightly less than that of saidfirst stub, and a helical clutch spring surrounding said stubs, saidfirst stub being a tight fit and said second stub being a loose fit insaid clutch spring and said clutch spring being arranged to frictionallyengage said second stub in response to rotation of said winding memberin said predetermined direction, said connection further comprisingmeans for rotating said portion of said motor in response to rotation ofsaid second stub.

8. A structure as defined in claim 7, further comprising braking meansfor said clutch spring, said braking means comprising a tubular memberloosely surrounding said second stub and having anchoring means for oneend of said clutch spring, and a braking spring cooperating with saidtubular member to oppose rotation of said end of said clutch spring inresponse to rotation of said winding member in said predetermineddirection. I

9. in a photographic camera, a housing; a spring motor supported by saidhousing and including a spring and a movable output member arranged tooperate at least one movable mechanism of the camera when the springdissipates energy; a lens mount of said housing; winding means for saidspring including a rotary tubular winding member supported by saidhousing and coaxial with said lens mount, said motor further including aportion coaxial with said output member and rotatable in a firstdirection when said spring dissipates energy and in a second directionto store energy in said spring in response to rotation of said windingmember in a predetermined direction; and one-way clutch means forrotating said output member in response to rotation of said portion ofsaid motor in said first direction.

10. A structure as defined in claim 9, wherein said clutch meanscomprises a spring friction clutch.

11. A structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said spring dissipatesenergy at a substantiallly constant rate during unwinding and has oneend anchored in said portion of said motor, said spring being arrangedto convolute itself around said portion in response to rotation of saidportion in said second direction.

12. In a photographic camera, a housing; a spring motor supported bysaid housing and including a spring and a movable output member arrangedto operate at least one movable mechanism of the camera when the springdissipates energy; a lens mount on said housing; and winding means forsaid spring including a rotary tubular winding member supported by saidhousing and coaxial with said lens mount, said housing comprising a wallprovided with a ring-shaped bearing having an internal surfacesurrounding an end portion of said winding member.

13. A structure as defined in claim 12, wherein said bearing is coaxialwith said lens mount and wherein said lens mount is threadedly connectedwith said housing, said winding means further comprising an internalgear provided on said winding member, a pinion rotatably journaled insaid lens mount and meshing with said'internal gear, and means forwinding said spring in response to rotation of said pinion when saidwinding member rotates in a predetermined direction.

